I'm reading an article about Israel's PM Netanyahu's concerns about the PA's "leftist" leanings (something I mentioned as a concern not all that long ago, I recall)... and what do I find?
Netanyahu decided to make those comments while "visiting" the King Abdullah II, in Amman, Jordan.
That's right... he just decided to pop in and say HI to Abdullah II (no advance notice given by either side, mind you) and discuss the "Palestinian question" with the leader of a nation that at one time was a primary belligerent against Israel and assisting the PLO. Not that this isn't almost unprecedented all by itself... but he then feels free enough to make critical comments in public about the PA while he is visiting with the King!!!!!
How long ago was it that our President, the leader of the free world and the champion of Israeli friendship and cooperation (his words, not mine)... wouldn't even give Netanyahu the time of day, in front of the entire world's press and cameras???
Again, I ask... is there a better example of an Arab/Muslim nation that has embraced all that the West holds dear in regards to democratic process and the free exchange of ideas and goods than the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, or its leader and icon, Abdullah II? It has the fastest growing economy in the Arab world (faster even than Israel's), boasts the best educated work force on the continent, has the closest military and diplomatic ties with the US and NATO of any state in the Near East, and the lowest percentage of sympathizers of terror or terror groups within its general population of any Muslim nation on the face of the earth, estimated at less than 2% of total population. More imporantly, it has the largest uranium reserves in the region... large enough to produce 800,000 tons of processed uranium per year, given the right industrial capacities and upgrades.
Can the US, which is always looking "long term" when it comes to the Middle East, afford to let the goodwill of the Jordanian people and government slip away, knowing the resources they control within the region?
Hats off to Netanyahu for making the trip and building the bridges between Tel Aviv and Amman even stronger than they were... but what a sad statement this makes of Obama's actions in denying Netanyahu time during a state visit to the US and cancelling his (or Hillary's) visit to Jordan in the same year. Where are this Administration's priorities?
Not looking toward the "long term" I guess...
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